How to Choose the Best Guard and Defense Dog?

In general, one could say that a dog is naturally inclined to defend its space and its owners, whom it associates with dominant males within its pack. However, it is important to know that certain breeds have been specifically selected to develop these qualities as guard and defense dogs.

These are therefore house or apartment guard dogs. Given the numerous cases of burglaries and intrusions, you have decided to have a guard and defense dog in your home.

A dog capable of protecting you against any cases of theft and burglary. You now have a choice to make among these different breeds. How to choose the best guard and defense dog?

Choosing a Guard Dog: Our Advice

There are hundreds of different canine breeds. Given this, choosing the best guard dog becomes a very complicated task. First of all, it would be good for you to take the time to gather information from dog magazines.

This information may include the price range of the guard and defense dog, as well as the costs, training difficulties, the need for an animal trainer, the necessity of dog or pet insurance, and the legal constraints regarding defense animals.

These legal constraints may vary depending on the breed of dog. Moreover, you need to define your objectives. That is, the reasons why you decide to adopt a guard and defense dog. Several reasons may lead you to want to adopt a guard and defense dog.

What Type of Guard and Defense Dog Do You Need?

Various characteristics and multiple reasons may motivate you to get a guard and defense dog.

A Small or Medium-Sized Guard Dog

A guard and defense dog must often be trained in order to effectively perform the tasks assigned to it. There are many small guard dogs of different breeds and colors.

They are all house or apartment guard dogs. As protection dogs, they can meet your expectations after proper training. Here is a selection of these different dog breeds:

  • The Barbet
  • The Basenji
  • The Alpine Basset
  • The Basset Fauve de Bretagne
  • The Basset Hound
  • The Beagle
  • The Beagle-Harrier
  • The Bearded Collie
  • The Bedlington Terrier
  • The Australian Shepherd
  • The Border Collie
  • The Border Terrier
  • The Australian Cattle Dog
  • The French Bulldog
  • The Portuguese Sheepdog
  • The Bully
  • The Olde English Bulldogge
  • The Dachshund
  • The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • The Bull Terrier
  • The Large Spitz
  • The Welsh Terrier
  • The Sanshu
  • The Norwegian Buhund
  • The Entlebuch Mountain Dog
  • The Shar Pei
  • The Standard Schnauzer
  • The Keeshond
  • The American Staffordshire Terrier
  • The Pit Bull
  • The Cursinu
  • The Chow Chow
  • The Finnish Lapphund
  • Etc.

A Calm and Gentle Guard Dog

The most well-known calm and gentle guard dog breeds are often large in size. As protection dogs, just because they are gentle does not mean they can be mistreated.

It is beneficial for you to respect your pet and to be cautious and vigilant with children. There are many house or apartment guard dog breeds. Here is a list of some of them:

  • The German Shepherd
  • The Dobermann
  • The Rottweiler
  • The Belgian Malinois
  • The Bullmastiff
  • The Neapolitan Mastiff
  • The Pit Bull
  • The Boxer
  • The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • The Cane Corso
  • The Dutch Shepherd
  • The Briard
  • The Bernese Mountain Dog
  • The Eurasier
  • The Dalmatian
  • The Dogue de Bordeaux
  • The Newfoundland
  • The Mastiff
  • The Leonberger
  • The White Swiss Shepherd
  • The Saint Bernard
  • The Great Dane
  • Etc.

An Aggressive Guard Dog

It is important to understand that no dog is born aggressive. It is through training and experiences that it may become dangerous or not. However, some breeds, due to their genetic heritage, are more difficult to train than others. As protection dogs, they can also be house or apartment dogs. Here is a list of aggressive guard dogs:

  • The American Staffordshire Terrier, known as the “Staff”
  • The American Pit Bull Terrier
  • The Rottweiler
  • The Tibetan Mastiff
  • The Tosa Inu
  • The German Shepherd
  • The Belgian Malinois
  • The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
  • The Alaskan Malamute
  • The Dobermann
  • The Labrador
  • The Jack Russell Terrier
  • The Beauceron
  • The Border Collie
  • The Boxer
  • The Cocker Spaniel
  • The Husky
  • The Pit Bull
  • The Dachshund
  • The Spaniel
  • The Yorkshire Terrier
  • Etc.

A Herd Guard Dog

Herd guard dogs are well known for their docility, gentleness, and intelligence. As livestock protection dogs, they can also be house or apartment dogs. You will have a wide choice of breeds, as there are nearly a hundred worldwide.

Among them, we have the Great Pyrenees (“Patou”), which is an excellent sheep guard dog. Mixed with the flock, it ensures their protection. The role of a herd guard dog is not to gather the flock but rather to protect them from wild animal attacks and/or stray dogs.
The Sheep Guardian Dog

The sheep guardian dog must establish a relationship with the ewes very early on. This process should be gradual and reciprocal until the guardian dog becomes accustomed to the flock. It must sleep, live, and eat with the flock. Here is a list of the best shepherd dogs:

  • The Australian Shepherd,
  • The Belgian Malinois,
  • The Border Collie,
  • The Rough Collie,
  • The Shetland Sheepdog,
  • The Picardy Shepherd,
  • The Great Pyrenees,
  • The Beauceron,
  • The White Swiss Shepherd,
  • The German Shepherd,
  • The Welsh Corgi
  • The Dutch Shepherd
  • The Catalan Sheepdog.
  • The Majorcan Shepherd Dog.
  • The Old English Sheepdog.
  • Etc.

A Malinois Guard Dog

The Malinois guard dog is characterized by short fur all over its body, a straight and lean head, a muzzle slightly longer than the skull, a flat forehead, relatively small, rectangular-shaped ears, and medium-sized, almond-shaped, oblique, dark brown eyes.

It is a protection dog with a powerful and harmonious body, a straight back, and a firm loin. As a protection dog, it lives with its owner. Very affectionate and close to its adoptive family and owner, the Malinois guard dog is suitable for both houses and apartments.

Courageous, it does not allow anyone to impose themselves on its territory. An excellent guard dog, it has a thick tail at the base of medium length. It is easy to train, and it is recommended to brush its coat once a week.

A Black Guard Dog

Guard and defense dogs come in various breeds, sizes, and colors. These different colors have nothing to do with their guarding abilities. Black guard dogs come in multiple breeds. They are all protection dogs. Here is a list of some of them:

  • The Bull Terrier
  • The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • The Norwegian Buhund
  • The Australian Cattle Dog
  • The Eurasier
  • The Aïdi
  • The Giant Schnauzer
  • The Rottweiler
  • The Belgian Groenendael
  • The Briard
  • The Newfoundland
  • The Creole Shepherd
  • The Royal Bourbon
  • The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • The Doberman
  • The Tibetan Mastiff
  • The Dachshund
  • The Bully
  • Etc.

A Powerful Guard Dog with a Fawn Coat

A powerful guard dog with a fawn coat includes the Basset Fauve de Bretagne, which is an excellent companion dog. As a protection dog, it needs to give and receive a lot of affection.

A very old breed, it is characterized by short, dry, very coarse fur—not woolly or curly—a long skull, ears that taper to a point, slightly turned inward, covered with shorter and finer fur, dark brown eyes, a compact body set low on its legs, and a medium-length tail that is thick at the base.

A pleasant companion for the family, it is well-suited for both houses and apartments. Sociable, very docile, well-equipped, and calm, it quickly adapts to its environment. It especially needs space to run.